Baked Skates - Too Tight?

[IPv6Freely 2093]

I've been wearing RBK 8K skates, size 8.5E for quite a while. They've actually become quite comfortable for the most part, but only because I leave the bottom laces only just slightly snug, and crank on the top 2-3 eyelets. I think that while this is comfortable (boy do my feet ever let me know when I've tied the bottom too tight), I think it's hindering my ability to get a deep knee bend in my stride.

I went out and found a pair of RBK 11K 8.5EE for stupid cheap, thinking maybe I'd be able to tie the bottom part tighter. I played one game in them with the bottoms tight and oh my god, I was dying.

I'm wondering if its possible that when I had them baked, I actually tied them too tight, so when they cooled they were "too small". Is that possible? Should I rebake?

Or should I just stick to the 8.5E and not worry about the knee bend, since they're comfortable?

[Hockeydog 8]

I would not think tying them too tight when baked would cause them to become tighter than they were pre-bake. If anything they molded to your foot better. Did you try on the skate before baking? Did they feel tighter or looser than after baking?

I also wonder if the RBK is the right skate for you if you have to crank the top eyelets down so much they inhibit knee bend.

[IPv6Freely 2093]

I would not think tying them too tight when baked would cause them to become tighter than they were pre-bake. If anything they molded to your foot better. Did you try on the skate before baking? Did they feel tighter or looser than after baking?

I also wonder if the RBK is the right skate for you if you have to crank the top eyelets down so much they inhibit knee bend.

Yes I did. They feel tighter, but I'm sure that's because they've molded to my foot.

RBK is the right skate. I have to crank the top eyelets to prevent the boot from flopping around because of how loose I have to keep the bottom.

[Kyle Friedman 9]

I wouldnt worry about them being tight, and i dont think its possible for you to over bake them to your foot. I would keep trying the 11ks, leaving them a little loose down low, and each time you skate tie them tiny bit tighter to help your foot get used to the snugger feel, and break them in.

They are a stiffer skate than the 8ks, so that could be why you are having pain. One you break them in, and get more comfortable on the stiffness of the boot, you should be good to go!

The only reason your 8ks are more comfortable right now is they are more broken in and formed to your specific foot.

Another option is leave them a bit loose down below the lace lock, and crack them tight above the lace lock, leaving the top eyelid looser as to not inhibit any movement.

[IPv6Freely 2093]

Yea I suppose its possible they're just not broken in enough yet. I'm afraid to try them in another game - the first one was hell. I just need to hit public skating a bunch of times to see if I can break them in some more.

[OceanicSix 0]

Try lacing them up and wearing them around the house. I often do this while watching tv and making trips to the fridge and stuff.

[hunt3rsean 44]

I had this exact problem on my pair of Bauer Vapor X:4.0 I bought a couple months ago. Because I have such a skinny ankle I have to crank down the upper lacing, but had to leave lower lacing area almost untouched because of how tight the fit was. During games it was brutal by the 2nd period. However, now I can give the lower laces a soft tug to snug the forefoot area up and still be able to crank the upper laces to keep my ankle support without any pain. They just needed the break in time. I had them baked twice prior to the break-in period.

What I've found to help against restricting knee bend is to make my shin lean forward a small bit as I crank down on the laces. For me, this gives me about the best medium of tightness/support and still allow room for decent knee bend.

[Chadd 916]

If your foot fits the boot, you shouldn't need to lace them uber-tight along the foot. More often than not, my laces are floppy at a couple spots along my foot and then pretty snug at the point where I can lock in my heel up to the ankle. But I have Fuel AGs and they are a softer ankle and I want the boot to flex with my stride.

[IPv6Freely 2093]

Try lacing them up and wearing them around the house. I often do this while watching tv and making trips to the fridge and stuff.

A guy on my team actually suggested sleeping in them, because of how warm your feet get when you sleep. I think he's crazy, but who knows?

[kovalchuk71 212]

A guy on my team actually suggested sleeping in them, because of how warm your feet get when you sleep. I think he's crazy, but who knows?

Yeah, do that if you want to wake up in the middle of night with INTENSE foot pain. This is from experience.

[OceanicSix 0]

A guy on my team actually suggested sleeping in them, because of how warm your feet get when you sleep. I think he's crazy, but who knows?

I've taken a nap on the couch with skates on before, I'd be too afraid of hurting my dog (and to a lesser extent my wife, jk) if I wore them overnight.

[IPv6Freely 2093]

I'm not sure just wearing them would suffice anyway... I'd probably need to walk around in them.

[Kyle Friedman 9]

Just go to some public skating, and pick up hockey games when you have the time. Once you break them in and get past the foot pain, i think you will love the skates.

[donkers 31]

After I bake my skates I still need 2 or 3 skates before they feel right.

[IPv6Freely 2093]

Just go to some public skating, and pick up hockey games when you have the time. Once you break them in and get past the foot pain, i think you will love the skates.

The pick-up idea is a good one, so if my feet are killing me I can just leave. Can't really do that in a league game ;)

[hunt3rsean 44]

The pick-up idea is a good one, so if my feet are killing me I can just leave. Can't really do that in a league game ;)

Well you can....but it usually involves partaking in a pretty heavy infraction.

[chk hrd 164]

If your foot fits the boot, you shouldn't need to lace them uber-tight along the foot. More often than not, my laces are floppy at a couple spots along my foot and then pretty snug at the point where I can lock in my heel up to the ankle. But I have Fuel AGs and they are a softer ankle and I want the boot to flex with my stride.

I agree, if I tie my skates even a little to tight on the bottom my feet cramp up bad, mainly in the arches. You shouldn't have to crank the laces on any skate.

[Holden Caulfield 5]

Have you tried a different foot bed like Superfeet yellow? Also, quite a work-around for the "right skate", perhaps you should reevaluate your premise and try a different last.

[IPv6Freely 2093]

I'm using Superfeet yellow. Very happy with them.

Try a different last? Wha?

What do you mean by "quite a work-around for the right skate"? You don't think it's important to wear skates that fit?

[Hockeydog 8]

After I bake my skates I still need 2 or 3 skates before they feel right.

Totally. My experience is that baking speeds up the break-in process but doen't eliminate it completely. Still takes some sweat and tears to get skates to their potential. A comfort skate like the Nexus may be an exception ( IF it is the right fit ) but even that skate I am sure will feel different after 20 skates than right after a bake.

I have gone thru a number of skates to find my best fit, sometimes trying different sizes of the same skate. By trying I mean buying and skating them. I can say that my experience is that once you have found a good fit, there is little need to have drastic lacing patterns thru the boot. I had some Supremes that required me to lace similar to your RBK's, OptimusR. Loose at the bottom or my foot cramped like crazy, and tight as tight can be so my heel locks in at all - with waxed laces. I found ( I think- I HOPE!) a good fit for me finally. All I need is pretty snug on a couple of eyelets to lock my foot in and I am good. Nobody knows your foot better than you do, and maybe this skate is the best you can do. Just keep an open mind to other models if you haven't looked around a bit. I also think public skates and walking around the house are good ideas. Once they are at the point where they should be broken in a punch out could be all you need to fine tune them if needed.

[IPv6Freely 2093]

I'll give them a few more skates. At worst, I just stick to what I have now, which is comfortable as long as I tie them the way I have been. I've tried Vapor and Supreme (neither fit right in the store, so I certainly wasnt going to try them beyond that). I tried "properly fitted" grafs, didn't like them. I'm curious what the fit of the Nexus is like (anyone know what it might be comparable to?) I also had a pair of Easton skates. Low end, but I wasn't a fan anyway. RBK has been the best, so far.

I also can't really just keep trying, I'd end up broke. RBK is a good base so far, but I'm still on the lookout for something better. Hoping the 11Ks that are EE instead of the 8K E's will end up being that solution.

[IPv6Freely 2093]

Okay, these definitely need more wear-in time. I have an 8K (sz 9E) on one foot and an 11k (sz 9EE) on the other. The 11k is SIGNIFICANTLY tighter on my foot than the 8k is. There is no way that would be the case unless it's just because the 8k is worn in.

[donkers 31]

Just skate in them more and don't think about it.

[IPv6Freely 2093]

Just skate in them more and don't think about it.

Would love to, but not in a game. No other opportunity to skate any time soon.

[donkers 31]

Would love to, but not in a game. No other opportunity to skate any time soon.

Nothing beats breaking in skates during a game. That's when you go hard and put it through all the motions. Plus, the adrenaline helps you forget about the pinching in your boots. I'm only speaking from 16 years of playing experience.